US and 17 other countries call on Hamas to release hostages

(Patria) - The US and 17 other countries have called on Hamas to release hostages as a step towards ending the crisis in Gaza, a senior US administration official said.

However, Hamas has stated they will not yield to international pressure.

"We call for the immediate release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza for over 200 days," said a joint statement released by the countries.

The US administration official called the joint statement an exceptional display of unanimity, Reuters reported.

All 18 countries have citizens held by Hamas for six months, after it launched an attack on Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people.

Hamas is believed to be holding 129 hostages out of a total of 253 taken in early October.

Hamas's attack led to Israel's retaliatory response, with attacks on Gaza in which more than 34,300 people have been killed since early October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The call to Hamas was signed by the leaders of the US, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

"We emphasize that a hostage release deal would lead to an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, allowing for the delivery of additional necessary humanitarian aid to be distributed throughout Gaza and leading to a viable end to hostilities," the statement said.

Hamas told Reuters they would not be influenced by the statement and that the US must force Israel to stop its aggression.